To casual observers, the Inter-American Development Bank is known for its infrastructure loans or programs to reform government institutions. But the IDB also works actively to help countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) overcome international trade barriers by helping firms buy more from each other and sell more products in foreign markets. In today’s globalized … [Read more...] about Trade globalization and digitalization
Global Value Chains
The Spaghetti Bowl and International Supply Chains
Latin America regional integration can be characterized by the co-existence of multiple trade agreements: there are 33 of these in total, their membership is limited in scope, and they generally act as separate silos which lack important interconnections between them. Common sense indicates that while this “spaghetti bowl” of agreements might encourage production linkages … [Read more...] about The Spaghetti Bowl and International Supply Chains
Waste not, want not: Strengthening LAC agrifood exports through robust cold chain logistics
The global food industry loses a staggering amount annually: US$750 billion. In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), roughly 55 percent of post-harvest fruit and vegetables are lost, mostly due to problems arising during storage, packaging, and distribution. At the same time, high logistics costs hurt trade in food and agriculture, increasing final prices by 30 percent to 100 … [Read more...] about Waste not, want not: Strengthening LAC agrifood exports through robust cold chain logistics
How Competitive Are Latin American Exports?
Policies to springboard the competitiveness of Latin America’s economies were a core topic during talks at the World Economic Forum for Latin America, which recently came to a close in Brazil. At the meeting, political and business leaders agreed that the recent shift in the global trade cycle, which has begun to expand again after years of contraction and stagnation, … [Read more...] about How Competitive Are Latin American Exports?
How Blockchain Will Track Your Sneakers around the World — and Get Them to You Faster
On the Verge of a New Era of Transparency and Efficiency for Supply Chains Do you know how far your brand-new sneakers traveled before you even took one step in them? From manufacturing to shipping to distribution, your sneakers were already world travelers before getting to your feet. Information on your sneakers’ journey – where they visited, how long they were there, and all … [Read more...] about How Blockchain Will Track Your Sneakers around the World — and Get Them to You Faster